Self-closing valve



Dec, 23, T: E. WASHBURN SELF CLOS ING VALVE 4 Filed Dec. 30, 19 2 4 sheets she et 1 INVENTOR- 16 fihyvasbburn i A TTORNEYS Dec. 23,1924; 1,520,377

- v T. E. WASHBURN SELF CLOSING VALVE Filed Dec. 30, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

INVENTOR WITNESSES A TTORNE Y 8 I TEjWashburJ),

Dec. 23, 1924. I

T. E. WASHBURN saw cpo sine' YALVE Filed Bed. 30, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 m w w LE T.

- WITNESSES A TTORNE Y8 1 resilience s, v

res, PATENT- sin 10' f wells or'the like,

ezrHomasnmsnArwasnnmtm-or coanrirea, camronma, assreiron. or ONE-HALF T EDGAR EARL WALTON, COALI'NGA,

v SELE-CLOSING new was fled ne ember so, 19221 Serial in. 610,017.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E, Wasn- B RN, a citizen of the United States, and a ."resident of Coalinga, in the county of Fresno and State of California, have. invented, certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Closing Valves, of whichgtheiollowing H is a specification. 1

' This invention relates'toan' automatic or self closing valve for use with oil or gas and it is designed to preventthe oilor gas from escaping from the w'ell and gelttingbeyond the control of the "operators'when the oil or gas'strata is penetrated by the drill. 'AcQrdiiigIy, the invention consists ininpora'tln'g in the wall casing a housing or alye easing-in which i's'operatively mountd-a valve normally: opened but organized -viiith\ a";press ure responsive device so that hroii hithe casing it will actuate-the pressuf e jre sppn'sive device and cagse theclosing the }valve.", =1; 1 #1 I Otheriiobjects' andfadvanta'ges' of the invention reside in certain novel je'a'tures of. hfef constructiom combinatioriiaiid arr'ange nient o'fparts-which' will be hereinafter 'inorfe fullyldescribed and particularly point-Q ed out in the appended claims, reference bewhen rthemill or gas'is struck and flows up hadto theaccornpanying' drawings lformin'g flpart of this specificat1on,-and in re 1 is a'view inelevation, showing the s ell or-hous ing in which the operative ff'parts'j'of the presentj invention are arranged; Figure 2 isafragmentary view in trans- '."ver sejverti cal'section throu h the shellor i housing parts beingsh'own in elevation for; the sakeflof illustration; v

*Figurefl is a jvievvin' transverse section on, --line 3 3'ofFigure.2; j is a-sirnilarview n line 1-4 of Figure'2;

e Figure 5 15 a similar view, on 'line5-.5 of

' Figure 6 a ;de't ai l' perspective view, 'show1ng'- one fqf the .s ect io 'ns "orv slips' otthe I valve'assembly; 4"

Fight-e57 is ajifragmentary view,-'illu'strating one of the gui e ribs for the valve slips;

Figure 8 1s a viewin section-,dllustrating r the construction of the ofitake valve;

Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the valve in open osition, illustrating the cable guides, art's ein shown in section and parts being omitte for the sake of illustration;

Figure 10 is a detail perspective view of the tool guide;

Figure 11 is a similar view of the cable guide;and- Y Figure 12 is a view,-in elevation, of the manually operable, closing device.

' Referring to the drawings wherein for', the sake of illustration is shown the pre-- 'ferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates generally the shell or housing in which. the operative parts of the present invention are arranged.-- This shell 10 includes a cylindrical portion 11' which has integrally formed with its upper enda frusto-conical portion 12 which in turn merges at its upper end into a neck 13 having threaded on its upper end theusual casing collar l i. The lower end of the'cylindrical portion 11 ofthe sliellhas connected thereto. a head or bottom section. 15 having an .upstanding,'annular flange l6. 1 which is internally threaded i for" engagement with the externalthreads on the lowerfend off-the cylindrical portion 11,- as shownJ-in. igure.

2. Bolts "17 alsoi'. provided and,., liave threaded engagement with the .flange 16 and the adjacentportion of the -shell'lO to aid in securing the' bottom sectionto the. shell vide d witha'dependingreduced extension 18', the lower endjo'fv which is. externally threaded as at 19"for connection with the collar or coupling ofthel well casing. "1A valve designated generally at 20 is op.-

estructionand each includes a plate likesbody ortion 22 of, sector shapeand': having ormed integral --there with .a, -de ending guide wing .23, the outer surface of t e guide wing- ;23 corresponding. information .to the inner surface'of the frusto-conical portion ings 23 slide against the inner surface of perspective ot the shell. In the assembly, the. guide this portion 12'qf the shell and the body por--v tions 22 of the slips extend transversely across the interior of the shell The adjaon casing The bottomsection- 15. -is pro ,karatively arranged. within the shel1;I 0 and is made-. uptoi a] plurality,-

cent lateral faces of the bodyportions 22 of the slips are formed with interfitting ribs and grooves designated at2 1 and 25, res ectively, so that when the valve isin c osed position that is when the slips are at their extreme upper position they will serve to completely obstruct the bore or' passage through the shell. The inner or small ends I of the body portions 22 of the valve slips at 29.- These guide grooves 28 receive guide are cut away,"as at 22" in order to accommodate the cable C, as shown in Figure 2. The

slips 21 also carry cable guides 26 inthe form of arcuate fingers riveted or otherwise connected to the plates, the arcuate fingers being arranged, as shown in Figurell and certain of the fingers being offset, as indicated at 27 so that these fingers will not interfere with each other or with the operation of the valve.

In or'der'to constrain the slips to partake of their proper movements in the shell under cut or dove-tailed guides grooves 28 are fo'rmed'in the slips and extend longitudinally thereof,'the guide grooves flaring or widening at their upper ends, as indicated ribs 30 riveted, as at 31, to the shell 10, the

guide ribs having under out side faces 32,

which coact with the under cut side walls of the grooves of the slips and these guide ribs are also widened at their upper ends, as 1n-.

the cylindrical section 11 of the shell 10.

This pressure responsive device is operatively connected with the valve 20 and in the embodiment shown connecting rods 37 are employed and are pivotally connected, asat 38 to the plates 35 and arearlsofpivotally connected. as at 39,:to the slips 2 1,

Within the shell 10- a number of-verticall'y extending tool guides 40 are arranged.

These tool guides 10 have lugs 41 at their lowerends received in seats 42 provided.

therefor in the bottom section 15 and adjacent their ends the tool guides" are bolted, as at 40 to'thefrusto conical portion 12 of the shell. The portions of the tool guides which extend through the cylindrical section 11 of the shell are of reduced size for the major portion 'oftheir length and these re duced po'rtion'sloftlife tool guides operate in radial slots 43 provided therefor in the plates 35 of the pressure responsive device so that these tool guides also serve as guides for the pressure responsive device. In order to insure the actuation of the pressure responsive device the bottom section 15 is provided with a number'ofpockets and which opens into the reduced extension 18 of the bottom section.

Withthe construction thus far describedwhen the.gas or oil bearing strata is penetrated by the drill, the oil or gas will rush up through the casing and will impinge against the plates 35 elevating these plates from the lower end to the upper end of the cylindrical section 11 of the shell. This motion of the plates is transmitted to the slips or valve sections through the connecting rods 37 so that these slips or valve sections rideup on their guides 30 and come into engagement with each other as shown in Figures 2 and 3 thereby completely'obstructing the passage through theshell and preventin the oil or gas from flowing out ofthe wel casing. -In this man'ner'the flow of oil orgas is arrested at the very beginning and thereby the possibility of any considerable body of oil or gas gaining momentum and j escaplng in a forcible and destructive manner is prevented, thus eliminating waste and therefor in the bottom section 15. The upper end of the bar 50 has integrall formed therewith a laterally extending loc 'n garm 52 which is adapted to be inserted through a I slot 53 formed in the lowermost plate 35 and then turned so as to engage this plate 35 and consequently lock the pressure responsive device against actuation by the pufiing above mentioned. The bar 50 also carries a beveled collar 54 which is ground so as to have li agement with a seat To provide for the manual closin of s" formed in the bottom section 15.

valve when desired a tool is 'furnished'wit'h.

the equipment thus far described, this tool embod ing acore or mandrel 58 having a. bevele flange 59 at its lowerend and hav-. ing its upper portion: threaded, as at 60.'

'The beveled annular flange 59 is engageable with a seat 61 provided thereforin the slips of the valve assembly. A handle 62. is

threaded into the upper end of the mandrel '58 and a book 63 is threaded in the lower end thereof. The hook may be engaged with;

the pressure plates 35 and the elevator lifted up to closed position, In closed position the nut 65 threaded on the mandrel 58 .is turned down to engage the top of the valve 4 slips. This action of thenut together with the beveled flange 59 holds the slips in closed position. i

In order to provide tor the oiltake of oil opening provided therefor in the valve casplug is in one position.

the plu 18 headed. as at 75. and the outer ing ing. This valve 70 has an axial bore 72 from which a radial bore 73 leads, the radial bore communicatingHvith a passage 74: provided therefor in the bottom section when the The outer end of end of the bore 72 is internally threaded, as at 76, so that the'plug may be coupled with a pipe or the like, The heat 75 facilitates the turning of the plug so as to bring the radial bore into registration with the passage 74 so as to move this bore 73 out of registration with the passage 74 thus opening or closing the valve.

1 claim:

l. A seltclosin'g valve for use with oil or gas wells comprising in combination with theivell casing, a valve l1ousing ln(:o1'p0 rated in the well casing, a valve in said housand a pressure responsivedevice operatively connected with the valve and adapted to be actuated to close the valve when gas or oil. is struck, and manually operable locking means for holding the pressure responsive device against. actuation when desired.

2. A self closing valve for use with oil or gas wells comprising in combination with the well casing, avalv'e housing incorporated in'the well casing, a valve in said housing, afid a pressure responsive device dey signed to be actuated solely by the oil and gas pressure within the housing and operatively connected with the valve so as to be actuated to close the valve when gas or oil is struck, said pressure responsive device including an annular pressure plate having its entire surface exposed at all times to the pressure. of oil and gas existing Within the housing.

3. A self closing valve for usewith oil or gas wells and comprising, in combination prising apluralitv of sections, sing normally disposed, so as to leave the I with a well casing, a valve housing associated with the well casing and having a passage therethrough, a pressure operated valve designed to be actuated by the oil and gas pressure within the housing and comsaid sections passage through the valve housing entirely unobstructed and thus permit the passage of tools throughthe'housing, said sections being also movable into engagement with each other to close the passage through the housing when oil or gas is struck, and a tool guide arranged within the housing.

4. In a device ofthe character described, a valve housing-having a section ofuniform diameter and a. tapering section, a valve operating in the tapering'section of said in the uniform section of the alve housingand opefatively connected with the sections of the valve said" pressure responsive device including an annular pressure plate exposed to the oil and gas pressure within the housing,

5. A self closing valve for use with oil or gas wells comprising in combination with a well casing, a. valve housing incorporated in the'well casing, a valve in said valve housing comprising a plurality of sections, each including a horizontally disposed sector-shaped plate or body portion, and a de-',

pending guide' wing, said sect'or shaped plates being movable into engagementwith each other to obstruct the passage through said valve housing or being movable out of engagement with each other to leave a substantial open and unobstructed passage through the valve housing, cooperating means between the valve housing and,- the Wings of the valve sections for guiding said sections in their movements and a pressure responsive device arranged in said valve housing and opergtinv ely connected with the sections of theil? e. 6, In a device of the character'described, a valve including a plurality of sectorshaped plates and a pressure responsive device designed to be actuated by the oil and gas pressure within the housing and connected to the parts of the valve for closing the same when oil or, gas is struck.

7. In a device of the character described, a valve including a plurality of horizontally disposed sector-shaped plates, said plates having horizontally disposed inter fitting ribs and grooves;

up of a plurality of sections, each section including a sector-shaped plate and adepending guide wing slidably engaged with the wall of the frusto conical section, 00-

operating means between the guide ring and the frusto-eonical section for constraining the sections of the valve to proper movement, the sector shaped plates of the valve being engaged with each other and obstructing the passage through the housing when the sections of'the valve are moved to the small end of the frusto-con'ica-l section of the housing while leaving a substantially open passage through the housing when disposed at the large end of said frustoconical section and a pressure responsive device operatively connected with the sections of the valve comp ising a pair of spaced annular pressure plates operating in the cylindrical section of 'the valve housing, said head having pockets formed therein underlying the lowermost plate-of the pressure responsive device to insure the action of ing a plurality of sections, a pressure responsive device also arranged in said housing and comprising a pair of spaced annular pressure plates operatively connected with the sections of the valve, a combined tool guideovand pressure plate guide including a series of vertical guide strips secured to the head .and to the valve housing, said pressure plates having grooves accommodating said I a said pressure responsive device including a strips. i

10. A self closing valve for use with oil or gas wells comprising-inocombination with the well casing, a valve housing incorporated in the well casing, a pressure operated valve in said housing including a plurality of sections and cable guides comprising arcuzlite fingers carried by the sections of said va ve.

11. A self closing valvej for use with oil.

or gas wells comprising incombination with a well casing, a valve housing incorporated 'lnthe well casing, a valve in said houslng the valve sections and adapted to be actu ated by. the pressure when gas or oil is struck, and means cooperable with the pressure responsive device for manually closing the valve when desired comprising a mandrel adapted to be accommodated by the recesses of the valve sections in the closed position of the flange, said mandrel ha ing a flange engageable with one side of said valve sections, a nut threaded on the mandrel and engageable on the other side of said valve sections, a hook carried by the mandrel and engageable with the pressure responsive device, and a handle carried by said mandrel.

12. A self closing valve for use with oil or gas wells comprising, in combine" ion with a well casing, a valve housing incorporated in the casing, a valve in said housing and a pressure responsive device designed to be actuated solely by the gas and oil pressure within the housing and operatively conneeted with the valve so as to be actuated to close the valve when gas or oil is struck,

pair of annular pressure plates, the upper pressure plate having its entire surface 'eX- posed at all times to the pressure of the oil and gas existing within the housing, said lagusing having pockets therein to admit the 01 or TH MAS-Entries WASHBURN gas pressure into the space below the lower pressure plate. 

